grasp the nettle

mainly BRITISH

COMMON If you grasp the nettle, you deal with a problem or unpleasant task quickly and in a determined way. I think you should grasp the nettle. Speak to your manager and make it clear you regret your mistake and are determined it will never happen again.European leaders have yet to grasp the nettle of labour-market reform. Note: If you grasp a nettle firmly, it is less likely to sting you than if you just touch it lightly.

grasp the nettle

tackle a difficulty boldly. British

This expression refers to a belief (recorded from the late 16th century onwards) enshrined in a rhyme quoted in Sean O'Casey'sJuno and the Paycock ( 1925 ): ‘If you gently touch a nettle it'll sting you for your pains; grasp it like a lad of mettle, an’ as soft as silk remains'.

1998New Scientist The problem was that governments failed to grasp the nettle and scrap the system.

grasp the ˈnettle

(British English) deal with a difficult matter, firmly and with courage: The government will have to grasp the nettle. If they don’t, the traffic congestion is going to get out of control.This expression refers to the belief that if you touch a nettle (= a plant with leaves that sting) lightly, you will be hurt, but not if you take a firm hold if it.

Politicians from all political parties have got to grasp the nettle and accept that an underfunded and under-staffed health service will continue to result in life-saving drugs and treatment not always being provided at the time of need This will inevitably result in escalating level of avoidable mortality rates - particularly affecting young children and elderly patients.

They must surely be linked to the evidenced failure of corporate governance on a grand scale - governance that has failed to grasp the nettle over many years and which has relegated our second city to fourth division for children's services.

Any money borrowed from the Housebuilding Infrastructure Loans Fund will have to be paid back within five years Jonathan Fair, chief executive of Homes for Scotland, said: "This announcement demonstrates the Scottish government are prepared to grasp the nettle in terms of the barriers to development.

The final four in these years was generally composed of the best players in draw and it would seem that in these situations one or other of the players tends to grasp the nettle and produce a decisive performance.

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